When the Los Angeles Lakers signed center Deandre Ayton back in July, expectations of his contributions weren’t otherworldly. The idea behind this acquisition was bringing in a starting big who would average a double-double and provide much-needed interior presence on both ends.
However, the former first overall pick out of Arizona has struggled to effectively produce. In 53 games played this season, Ayton has averaged career lows in points (12.8), assists (0.9) and rebounds (8.3).
The big man’s struggles extend even further. His interior presence has been more or less nonexistent, with a disturbingly-low block average (0.9). Ayton has also been subpar crashing the board, averaging 2.5 offensive and 5.9 defensive rebounds. To make matters worse, Ayton has also averaged career worsts in rebound percentage (15.7%) and a defensive rating of 117.5.
When compared to his teammates, Ayton’s numbers are shockingly poor. His net rating of -2.2 is the worst among his fellow starters and lower than his backup, center Jaxson Hayes.
Ayton’s deficiencies aren’t just limited to the statsheet, either. Throughout the season, his effort has been frequently scrutinized, as he tends to meander up and down the floor, halfheartedly contest shots and lazily pursue and secure rebounds.
After a February 24 loss to the Orlando Magic, Ayton verbalized his frustrations regarding his utilization, claiming that the Lakers want him to play the role of center Clint Capela, much to his dismay. Ironically, if he was this team’s Capela, Los Angeles would most likely be a top-three seed in the Western Conference by now.
Especially as of late, Ayton’s lackluster production has been on full display. Since the All-Star Break, he has averaged 9.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in just 24.3 minutes. Most notably, in a first quarter sequence during the Lakers’ February 28 matchup against the Golden State Warriors, Ayton allowed three straight open layups. He was subsequently benched by Lakers head coach JJ Redick after these defensive lapses.
So, how big of a liability is Deandre Ayton?
A massive one that needs to be addressed ASAP. If Redick doesn’t reduce his playing time in favor of other bigs on the roster or find a way to significantly increase his production on both ends, Los Angeles will be in a dogfight to avoid the Play-In Tournament instead of competing for a top-three seed.